Shavkat Rakhmonov refuses to be forgotten as a top contender.
Rakhmonov (19-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) was scheduled to challenge Belal Muhammad for the welterweight title this past May at UFC 315, but an injury pulled him from the fight. It was Jack Della Maddalena who wound up getting the shot instead, and he dethroned Muhammad to become champion.
Now, Della Maddalena (18-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) makes his first title defense against Islam Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 322 (pay-per-view, ESPNews/Disney+/FX, ESPN+) headliner at Madison Square Garden in New York. Ahead of his fight, he was asked about Rakhmonov’s place in the division.
“I think the division has moved on,” Della Maddalena told MMA Fighting of Rakhmonov. “If you stay inactive, you kind of fall behind. I think that’s where it is. Someone like Sean Brady has been so active, Ian Garry, these guys are very active. How can Shavkat stay in that top position when these guys are fighting guys? It’s a hard one, but I’ll just do whatever I’m told.”
Rakhmonov’s most recent win came in a five-round battle against Ian Machado Garry at UFC 310. He reminded Della Maddalena of where he was at before challenging Muhammad.
“The only reason you got that title shot was my injury. Funny how you forgot you were inactive for almost 14 months before that.”
